Key holder

ABSTRACT

A key holder comprising a key ring formed from a length of resilient wire stock and bent to provide a loop and a pair of leg portions, a discoidal body formed of plastic, means for mounting a flat, indicia-bearing element on at least one side of said body, said key ring leg portions being detachably engageable within said body inwardly of the indicia-bearing element, and panel-like components for retaining said leg portions against accidental displacement, protecting the indicia-bearing elements against damage thereby.

United States Patent Kamp July 8, 1975 [54] KEY HOLDER 3,715,900 2/1973Sherman 70/456 R [76] Inventor: Emil W. Kamp, 242 Palm Dr., St.

Louis County, MO 53141 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier AssistantExaminer-Peter A. Aschenbrenner [22] Flled: 1973 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Ralph W. Kalish 2: Appl. No.: 390,905

[52] [1.8. CI 70/456 R; 70/459 [51] Int. Cl. A44B 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch 70/456-459; 24/3 K, 238

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,469 7/1962 Rentscheret al 70/459 3,181,321 5/1965 Gits 1. 70/456 R 3,589,155 6/1971 Kamp....70/459 3,599,457 8/1971 Kamp.... 70/459 3,604,233 9/1971 Burrett 70/459ABSTRACT A key holder comprising a key ring formed from a length ofresilient wire stock and bent to provide a loop and a pair of legportions, a discoidal body formed of plastic, means for mounting a flat,indiciabearing element on at least one side of said body, said key ringleg portions being detachably engageable within said body inwardly ofthe indicia-bearing element, and panel-like components for retainingsaid leg portions against accidental displacement, protecting theindicia-bearing elements against damage thereby.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures KEY HOLDER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION I This invention relates in general to portable articleretaining devices and, more particularly. to a key holder constituted ofa ring-forming member and a body detachably engageable with the former.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holderincorporating a key ring formed from a length of resilient wire stockand a body detachably engageable with said key ring, and wherein theends of said ring are received internally within the body, thereby beingobscured from view during usage as dis tinguished from key holders ofthe general type wherein the leg portions are engaged on externalportions of the related body and. hence, fully visible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder ofthe type stated wherein the body is adapted to receive flat,indicia-bearing elements, and having panel components for preventing thereceived key ring legs from disruptive, damaging contact with saidindicia-bearing elements during usage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key holder ofthe type stated wherein the body integrally incorporates novelstructural members for retention of the key ring legs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a key holderof the type stated which is adapted to securely maintain keys thereonand wherein the engagement between said key ring and the body conduce toa reliably stable interengagement thereby preventing unauthorizedaccidental displacement of the keys thereon.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a keyholder of the type stated which is particularly designed for inexpensivemanufacture of the components and ease of assembly thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key holder ofthe type stated which is durable and reliable in usage, which isparticularly adapted to prevent loss of the indicia-bearing elements sothat the said holders are suited for advertising and promotionalpurposes; and which is of light wight so as to avoid imposing an undulyheavy bulk within the users pockets; and which is adapted for highvolume, rapid production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a keyholder constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 7--7 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by referencecharacters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, A generally designates a key holder comprising akey ring I and a unitary retainer or discoidal body 2. Said key ring 1is formed from a length of resilient wire stock bent to define a loop orpartiannular section 3 for receiving keys (not shown) and a pair of legs4,4 each of which at their end extremity or outer terminal, as at 5,5,respectively. is directed slightly toward the other. At their oppositeends. immediately adjacent loop 3, legs 4,4 are bent inwardly towardeach other, as at 6,6, to form a relatively narrow neck n. Between theirouter terminals 5,5, and neck portion 6,6, each leg 4,4 is curved orarcuated outwardly away from each other, as at 7,7. respectively. Forpurposes presently appearing, the resilient nature of the material ofconstruction of key ring 1 will allow legs 4,4 to be urged toward andaway from each other but with the development of expected stress.

Retainer 2 is formed, preferably, by molding from butyrates, whichplastics have been found to have the desired strength and lightness ofweight particularly suitable for the present invention. Said retainer 2,as stated, is of general discoidal configuration embodying a rim portionr comprising an outer or peripheral side wall 8 having its end facesbeveled, as at 9,9. for border-defining purposes, as will be set forthhereinbelow. The inner surfaces of said beveled margins 9,9 are providedwith a continuous undercut 10,10. respectively; with there being aninner side wall 11, of slightly greater depth than said outer side wall8, being presented between undercuts 10,10 (see FIG. 4). Extendingbetween diametrically opposed portions of inner side wall 11, and oflike thickness and planarwise aligned therewith, is a partition or post12. It will be seen that partition 12 divides the interior of retainer 2into two distinct sections. Integral with one end face of partition 12,is a relatively thin, continuous wall 13 planarwise parallel to the axisof partition 12 and merging along its periphery with the adjacentportion of inner side wall 11. As may be seen in FIG. 4, said wall 13 isof relatively reduced thickness with respect to the depth of inner wall11 and partition 12. Wall 13 provides a surface against which may bedisposed a flat, annular indicia-bearing member 14, as formed of paperor the like, and carrying upon its outwardly directed face a designand/or textual matter, as for advertising. promotional, or otherintelligence purposes. Said members 14 project in their peripheralportions into the undercut 10', and coveringly disposed over said memberis a protective transparent window or lens 15, as fabri cated of clearplastic, with its margins received within the undercut 10' and therebyheld firmly against accidental displacement.

Partition 12 in its end portion opposite from that connected to wall 13is rigid with a relatively small flat plate 16 which is planarwiseparallel with wall 13 and projects laterally beyond each side ofpartition 12 a limited distance but spacedly from the proximate portionsof inner side wall 11; the normally upper end of said plate merges intosaid wall 1], as at 17, immediately adjacent apertures l8, 18 providedin rim portion r for opening into the interior of retainer 2, onopposite sides of partition 12. The normally lower end of plate 16, at19, is spaced from the bottom portion of rim portion r but is connectedthereto in its opposite lower side portions by narrow arms 20,20 whichbridge the distance between said plate and said rim portion r forrigidifying the said plate 16 as well as to enhance the effectivesurface provided by same for receiving thereon a member 14 which issimilarly accepted in its periphery within undercut 10. Just as with theopposite side of key holder A, a protective transparent window or lensis disposed converingly over the member 14 supported on plate 16 andwith the edge portions of said window extending beneath undercut 10.

Key ring 1 is adapted for detachable engagement with retainer 2, withsuch being effected by projection of legs 4,4 through apertures 18,18,respectively. for extension into the interior of retainer 2 on oppositesides of partition 12 and between wall 13 and plate 16. The walls ofaperture 18,18 effect a camming relationship with the respective legs4,4' so that as the arcuated portions 7,7 pass therethrough said legswill be forced toward each other with the development of expectedstress. After completion of passage through said apertures 18,18 by thearcuated portions 7,7, the latter under inherent bias will return tonormal relationship, thereby extending slightly laterally outwardly ofapertures 18,18 in which position accidental dislodgment is inhibited.

In order to withdraw key ring 1 from retainer 2, forceful, axiallydirected outward pulling is required to cause legs 4,4 to be cam medtoward each other against the bias of the wire stock for sufficientmutual compression.

lt is to be particularly noted that wall 13 and plate 16 serve toconfine the legs 4,4 of key ring 1 when the same are engaged withinretainer 2. It is recognized that during usage there may be some rockingor shifting of such legs which would normally have a damaging anddisruptive effect upon the members 14, causing a tearing or otherrupturing thereof which would effec tively destroy the value of themessage or other symbol provided thereon. Thus, regardless of how loosekey ring 1 might become the legs thereof cannot be brought into damagingcontact with members 14 so that the longevity of key holder A isassured. Furthermore, wall 13 and plate 16 both serve to provide theproper supports for members 14 so that the same are at all timesretained in appropriately centered, unwrinkled condition.

Having described my invention what 1 claim and desire to obtain byLetters Patent is:

1. A key holder comprising a key ring formed from wire stock and havinga loop-forming portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs continuous withsaid portion, a discoidal retainer body having a rim comprising an outerperipheral wall, an inwardly radially spaced inner peripheral wall andopposed exterior surfaces between said inner and outer peripheral walls,said rim having a pair of openings extending therethrough from saidouter peripheral wall through said inner peripheral wall, an elongatedpartition member provided interiorly of said retainer body with oppositesides thereof aligned respectively with the said openings, said innerperipheral wall being annular, said partition member extending betweendiametrically opposed points on said inner peripheral wall, said keyring legs projecting through said openings and being presented onopposite sides of said partition member, an annular, flat, uniplanar,relatively rigid plate integral with one side of said partition memberwith its plane being parallel to the major axis of said partitionmember, said inner peripheral wall being provided with undercutportions. said plate being integral at its periphery with the said innerperipheral wall, and being located inwardly of the undercut portionproximate thereto, a first indiciabearing member presented flatwise uponsaid annular plate, and a first protective transparent member disposedcoveringly of said first indicia-bearing member. said firstindicia-bearing member and said first protective transparent memberhaving peripheral portions received within the proximate undercutportion of said inner peripheral wall, a second plate presented inplanar parallel relationship to said annular plate and being disposedintegral to the opposite side of said partition member, said secondplate having an area less than that of said annular plate with portionsof its periphery spaced from said inner peripheral wall, said secondplate being integral with said inner peripheral wall at spaced apartpoints between the said portions of its periphery spaced from said innerperipheral wall, and further characterized by said co-ordinating plateprojecting beyond opposite lateral portions of said partition member adistance sufficient to partially overlie the received key ring legswhereby the latter are retained between said first and second plates,further characterized by the engaged portions of the second plate tosaid inner peripheral wall constituting a portion thereof proximate thepair of rim openings and arms extending from said second plate to theinner peripheral wall at spaced-apart points from each other and fromthe portion engaging said wall proximate the pair of rim openings.

2. A key holder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by asecond indicia-bearing member disposed upon said second plate and havingits marginal portions received within the adjacent undercut of saidinner peripheral wall, and a second transparent protective memberdisposed coveringly of said second indicia-bearing member with themarginal portions of said second protective member being accepted withinsuch undercut.

1. A key holder comprising a key ring formed from wire stock and havinga loop-forming portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs continuous withsaid portion, a discoidal retainer body having a rim comprising an outerperipheral wall, an inwardly radially spaced inner peripheral wall andopposed exterior surfaces between said inner and outer peripheral walls,said rim having a pair of openings extending therethrough from saidouter peripheral wall through said inner peripheral wall, an elongatedpartition member provided interiorly of said retainer body with oppositesides thereof aligned respectively with the said openings, said innerperipheral wall being annular, said partition member extending betweendiametrically opposed points on said inner peripheral wall, said keyring legs projecting through said openings and being presented onopposite sides of said partition member, an annular, flat, uniplanar,relatively rigid plate integral with one side of said partition memberwith its plane being parallel to the major axis of said partitionmember, said inner peripheral wall being provided with undercutportions, said plate being integral at its periphery with the said innerperipheral wall, and being located inwardly of the undercut portionproximate thereto, a first indicia-bearing member presented flatwiseupon said annular plate, and a first protective transparent memberdisposed coveringly of said first indicia-bearing member, said firstindicia-bearing member and said first protective transparent memberhaving peripheral portions received within the proximate undercutportion of said inner peripheral wall, a second plate presented inplanar parallel relationship to said annular plate and being disposedintegral to the opposite side of said partition member, said secondplate having an area less than that of said annular plate with portionsof its periphery spaced from said inner peripheral wall, said secondplate beIng integral with said inner peripheral wall at spaced apartpoints between the said portions of its periphery spaced from said innerperipheral wall, and further characterized by said co-ordinating plateprojecting beyond opposite lateral portions of said partition member adistance sufficient to partially overlie the received key ring legswhereby the latter are retained between said first and second plates,further characterized by the engaged portions of the second plate tosaid inner peripheral wall constituting a portion thereof proximate thepair of rim openings and arms extending from said second plate to theinner peripheral wall at spacedapart points from each other and from theportion engaging said wall proximate the pair of rim openings.
 2. A keyholder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a secondindicia-bearing member disposed upon said second plate and having itsmarginal portions received within the adjacent undercut of said innerperipheral wall, and a second transparent protective member disposedcoveringly of said second indicia-bearing member with the marginalportions of said second protective member being accepted within suchundercut.